Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) on Thursday pressed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for failing to promptly notify the White House, lawmakers and senior Pentagon staff about his December cancer diagnosis and subsequent January hospitalization. “Are you surprised the president didn’t call for your resignation?” asked Rep. Banks, the chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. “I’m surprised, but are you surprised that he didn’t call for your resignation?” Secretary Austin told him, “The president has expressed full faith and confidence in me.” “Either the president is that aloof or you are irrelevant. Which one is it?” Rep. Banks pressed. “It’s neither,” the secretary replied. “The president is not aloof and, and I am, I participate in, in all of the critical decision-making processes.” Secretary Austin, who has apologized for the lack of transparency, said he never intended to keep the hospitalization secret and insisted there were never any gaps in authority. #secdef #lloydaustin #jimbanks #pentagon #cspan